PKB rivals may seek court ruling
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
A court decision now appears the most feasible option for putting an end to an internal rift within the National Awakening Party (PKB) as the two rival camps continue to stick by their guns in a worsening leadership dispute.
Represented by their key members during a discussion on Friday aimed at finding a solution to the bitter conflict, the two camps maintained their respective positions as to whether or not the PKB should hold a new congress to end the chairmanship dispute.
However, a splinter PKB faction led by chief welfare minister Alwi Shihab gave assurances that it would not set up a new party.
The PKB has been divided into two rival camps since its national congress in April, which elected House of Representatives deputy speaker Muhaimin Iskandar as its new executive chairman, and retained former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid as chief patron.
Alwi's camp called the congress illegitimate as it failed to involve him and State Minister for the Development of Disadvantaged Regions, Saifullah Yusuf.
"A mediation process requires common ground. The only common ground we will accept is the declaring of the April congress illegitimate and the holding of a new election," PKB legislator A.S. Hikam from the Alwi-led camp told Friday's discussion.
"Mediation is OK as we always prefer to resort to mediation first as members of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), but we will not accept any challenge to the current party lineup," PKB lawmaker Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, who supports the Muhaimin faction, said at the same forum.
Alwi and Saifullah were suspended as the PKB chairman and secretary-general respectively last October after joining the Cabinet of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose presidential bid was opposed by the party.
The two are suing the PKB central board over their suspensions, which they say violated the party's statutes. The hearing of the case is expected to kick off on May 9 in the South Jakarta District Court.
Law No. 31/2002 stipulates that a decision on a dispute involving a political party must be handed down within a maximum of 60 days from the hearing of the case, while a decision on an appeal to the Supreme Court must be issued within not more than 30 days.
Former PKB deputy chairman Mahfud M.D, however, said that resorting to the courts would not benefit the party as the losing side would most likely split from the party, which would only further damage it.
"History shows that splits, especially when led by senior clerics, results in adverse consequences, such as shifting allegiances and reduced party strength. The chances of winning are really only fifty-fifty.
Seeking a solution through mediation could instead prove to the public that the PKB was a mature party that solved its conflicts in a dignified manner without giving the impression of a power struggle," Mahfud, a self-proclaimed mediator in the conflict, told the Friday discussion.
Nonetheless, if going to court was the only available options, Mahfud said he believed that Gus Dur would be the one to lead the reconciliation process after the court case.
"Gus Dur is highly respected by both camps. And he is a very procedural type of person. Whatever the court decides, whether at the district court or Supreme Court level, Gus Dur will likely abide by it, and this will hopefully be emulated by everyone else," said Mahfud.